Sigmtjnd bergmann



(No Model.)

S BERG MANN. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No, 552,574. 4 Patented Jami. 7, 1896.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT Y FFICE.

SIGMUND BERGMANN, OF NENV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL INCANDESCENT ARC LIGHT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIOSWlTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,574, dated January '7, 1896. Application filed April 23, 1895. Serial No. 546,881. (No model.)

York city, in the county and State of New- York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches or Out Outs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electrical switch I or cut-out device intended more especially for controlling the circuit of incandescent electric lamps, but adapted also for use with other electrically-operative appliances.

The invention embodies certain novel features of construction, including a compound revoluble ratchet device of insulating material, having two complete ratchet-faces lying in different general planes, each face having alternate conductive and non-conductive portions. These two ratchet-faces are opposed to corresponding pairs of binding-post contacts also having acting faces lying in different planes and adapted to the conductive and non-conductive portions of the two faces of the revoluble compound ratchet, whereby extensive contact-surfaces for passage of a biphase or multiphase current to the lamp or other device are provided, while permitting the entire switch device to be made more compactly and quite shallow, to promote its protection, while lessening its projection from a wall or plate to which it is fixed in use. The key-spindle which operates the compound revoluble ratchet contact device is fitted loosely therein to rotate backward without turning said ratchet; but when the key-spindle is turned forward or in the opposite direction an interposed spring is acted on so as to store up its power, which later is utilized to give a rapid forward impulse to the ratchet to connect or disconnect the contact-plates of opposite polarity very quickly to assure prompt maximum surface contact and avoid excessive sparking at the plates, in order to promote the efficiency and durability of the switch device. I

The invention will first be described and then will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, similar numerals refer to like parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the switch or cut-out presumably attached to a vertical wall with the operating-key and protecting-cap removed andthe key-spindle in cross-section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the complete switch device, taken on the irregular line w as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the compound ratchet, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken at about right angles to Fig. 3 and on the line 3 y in Fig. 1.

The base 1, of insulating material, such as porcelain or vulcanite, is perforated at 2 2 to receive screws which fasten the switch in position for use. This base is recessed at top and bottom to accommodate the binding-posts and their fastenings. The binding-posts in the biphase-current switch shown comprise opposing pairs 3 3 and 4 4, respectively. The line-wires are to be fastened to these posts by screws or otherwise. The posts have flanges to which are fastened metallic contact-plates 5 5 and 66, respectively, which bear alternately upon corresponding conducting and non-conducting faces of a compoundcontact making and breaking ratchet 7, as presently described. This ratchet 7 is bored axially to receive loosely a spindle 10, preferably having. a collar 11 next the ratchet. The spindle also loosely fits within the insu latingdoase 1, to which it is held by a washer 12. The spindle 10 thus may turn freely in the base 1, and may also be turned in the ratchet 7, which is supported by it. This ratchet has two series of ratchet-teeth disposed in two different planes, preferably at about right angles to each other. The inclined faces of the outer series of ratchetteeth are shown in a plane at right angles to the ratchet-axis, while the inclined faces of the inner series of teeth are at the periphery of the ratchet device and parallel to its axis. On adjacent outer and inner teeth of the ratchet '7, at diametrically opposite parts thereof, are fastened two metallic contactplates 8 8, each formed preferably in one piece and with a face portion 8 overlying the inclined face of one of the outer series of ratchet-teeth, and a porton 8", overlying the face of one of the inner peripheral series of ratchet-teeth. The intermediate portionsof 8 fit between shoulders of the outer series of ratchet-teeth. Hence by simply pressing one or two locking tongued portions 8 from the plate-face 8 into a recess in the ratchettooth it overlies a most simple and secure fastening is obtained for each of: these contactplates. The teeth 9 9 of the two ratchets between those overlaid by the contactplates 8 8 are left uncovered and thus present their insulating-faces to the bindingpost contacts 5 5 and 6 6 as the compound ratchet 7 is turned to control the electric circuits, as hereinafter explained.

The outer end of the hub portion of the ratchet 7 is reduced to present one or more flat side edges, it preferably being squared,

as shownat 7 and onthis square extremity is fitted a metal disk or plate 13, behind whichis preferably placed on the ratchet-hub shoulder a disk 14:, of insulating ymaterial. This plate 13 turns only with the ratchet device 7, and has a detent 15 at or near its periphery, and formed, preferably, by pressing out a portion of the metal ofthe plate. One detent 15 would suffice; but two, located diametrically opposite, as shown, are preferred in practice. In or through the ratchet-spindle 10 is passed one end of I a volute spring 16, preferably coiled from brass or steel wire and having its other end 17 turned outward,

so that .the detents 15 lie in its path. The successive coils of the springs 16 are normally open or separated, thus allowing it to be contracted to store upits power by initial turning-of the key-or handle 18, whichis fixed to the spindle 10.

A; suitable cap 19 of sheet metal is fitted to the base 1 and around the spindle 10, beneath the operating-key 18, which holds it in place. hen the key is removed from the spindle, the cap may be taken off to give access to the interior parts.

The operation is as follows: Should the key 18 be turned backward, the, spindle 10 and spring 16 turn with it, and the spring end 17 then slips backward over the inclined faces of the detents 15 of plate 13, this plate and the compound ratchet 7 both remaining stationary. WVhen the key 18 is turned forward or in the opposite direction, the spring extremity 17 engages the shoulder of the first detent 15 it'meets. ing-post contacts 5 5 6 6 on the teeth-of the compound ratchet 7 is sufficient to cause the spring 16 to first be-more tightly coiled or contracted to store up its power by the initial forward rotation of the key. After the resistance offered by the switch-contact surfaces is -overbalanced by the power applied at the key theratchet 7 begins to rotate forward, and should the circuit now be open or broken the insulated ratchet-faces 9 9 will The friction. of the bindceases 'andthe spring 16 instantly uncoils and exerts its stored power to give the compound ratchet 7 a quick forward impulse independently of the key and spindle, which carries the contact-plates 8 8 of the ratchet 7 forward into position to enable the preferablybent and elasticstationary line-wire contacts 5 5 6 6 to make a quick, safe, and broad surface contact with said ratehet-contacts 8 8, and the circuit now is closed to the lamps or other wire-connected electric appliances. For opening the circuit again the key 18-is turned forward, whereby the spring 16 is again coiled closer to store up its power, and the instant the circuit-making ratchetcontacts 8 8 slip forward from the line-wire contacts 5 5 6 6 the spring 16'again-expandsto its normal coiled condition, thereby utilizing its stored power to give another independent quick forward impulse to the duplex ratchet 7 'to carry its-last-en'gaged contacts 8' 8 quickly forward some little distance past the line-wire contacts to make an instant wide separation of the ratchet and line-wire contacts to-avoid-formati-on of-arcs, and thereby promote durability of the entire switch device.- The uncoiling spring 16- in givingoff its stored power acts substantially the same in switching the lamps into or out of circuit; but it is perhaps more important in avoiding damaging arcs in switching 'outof circuit. The disk '14 of insulating material prevents the passage of current or formation of arcs between the outer binding-post contacts 5 6 and the metal detcnt-carrying plate 1 3, spring 16, spindle 10, and operating-keylS;

Itwill-benoticed that by arranging two series of conductive contact-facesS 8 and two series of non-conductive faces 9 9 in different general planes onthc compound ratchet '7 four corresponding binding-post contacts 5 5 6 6 may be used for a biphase current withoutunduly increasing the depth of the switch device and consequently lessening the extent of its projection from a wall or support to which it is fixed, thereby reducing liability of injury to it in use.

Some features of this invention hereinafter claimed may be used independently of other features vin switch devices of this general. character, and the compound ratchet 7 may IIO have more than two pairs of opposing contact and insulating surfaces to act with corresponding line-wire'contacts arranged in different planes for use in multiphase or polymore ratchets arranged in different general planes, each ratchet having alternate conductive and non-conductive contact faces to which; the corresponding pairs of line wire contacts are adapted, substantially as de scribed.

, adapted, a key or spindle, a detent on the contact device, and a spring operated by the spindle and. acting on the detent and imparting,

quick rotative impulse to the contact device independently of the spindle, substantially as described.

3. An electric switch or cut-out, provided with two or more pairs of line wire contacts having acting faces lying in different planes, a revoluble contact device having two or more ratchets arranged in different general planes,

each ratchet having alternate conductive and non-conductive contact faces to which the corresponding pairs of line wire contacts are adapted, a key or spindle, a detent on the contact device, an insulation located between the detent and binding post contacts, and a spring held. to the spindle and adapted to turn 1 the detent and circuit maker and store up power on the initial forward rotation of the spindle and utilize said stored power to give quick rotative impulse to the circuit maker when opening or closing the circuit, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in an electric switch or cut-out, of an insulating base 1, two pairs ofline wire contacts 5, 5, 6, 6, held thereto with acting faces in different planes, a revoluble compound ratchet 7, having two faces lying in different general planes and provided with alternate conductive and non-conductive portions S 9, and 8 9, adapted to the line wire contacts, and means for rotating the ratchet 7, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in an electric switch or cut-out, of an insulating base 1, two pairs of line wire contacts 5, 5, 6, 6, held thereto with acting faces in different planes, a revoluble compound ratchet 7, having two faces lying in different general planes and provided with alternate conductive and non-conductive portions 8, 9, and S", 9, adapted to the line wire contacts, a spindle 10 in the ratchet 7, a plate 13 held to ratchet7, to turn therewith and having one or more detents 15, a

coiled spring 16, held at one end to the spindle 10, and adapted at its outer end to the detents 15, and means for turning the spindle, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in an electric switch or cut-out, of an insulating base 1, two pairs of line wire contacts 5, 5, 6, 6, held thereto with acting faces in different planes, a revoluble compound ratchet 7, having two faces lying in diiferent general planes and provided with alternate conductive and non-conductive portions 8, 9, and 8 9, adapted to the line wire contacts, a spindle 10, in the ratchet 7, a plate 13, held to 7, to turn therewith and having one or more detents 15, an insulation 14, next the plate 13, a coiled spring 16, held at one end to the spindle 10, and adapted at its outer end to the detents 15, and means for turning the spindle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SIGMUND BERGMANN. Witnesses SEWARD DAVIS, F. A. LA Rooms. 

